Tag Archives: earth day

COMMUNITY SERVICE: Jaclyn Jablkowski describes Build It Green!NYC as a place to donate or purchase recycled material in an attempt to keep waste out of landfills.

Jablkowski, the communications manager for Build it Green, said the non-profit not only works to provide material for people to use, but also provides construction workers for de-construction projects.

Since April is “Earth Month,” and “Earth Day” is on April 22, Jablkowski said the organization will host a wide variety of events to promote awareness of environmental protection.

Build It Green’s center, at 3-17 26th Avenue in Astoria, has been in operation since 2005 and has a second location in Brooklyn that opened in late 2011.

JOB/BACKGROUND: Jablkowski has been involved in environmental projects for nearly her entire life, both professionally and as a volunteer, previously having worked with Solar One, the organization responsible for maintaining Stuyvesant Cove Park in Manhattan.

“This is just what I love to do,” Jablkowski said about working to improve the environment.

In her spare time, she enjoys going to live music shows. She is also currently working to create a Build it Green! softball team.

“I’m very excited about that,” she said.

INSPIRATION: Jablkowski’s inspiration in working with Build it Green! and other green projects comes from her concern about the environment. “We’re hoping to make New York City a greener city,” she said.

FAVORITE MEMORY: Jablkowski said her favorite memories come from the people who benefit from Build it Green!

“Whenever I hear how people are going to be able to take recycled material and turn it into something new, it always reminds me of why I’m doing what I do.”

BIGGEST CHALLENGE: Jablkowski says the biggest roadblock for Build It Green! is the fact that the Stuyvesant Cove Parkbrings most waste to far-off landfills, and as a result, people don’t physically see the waste, and don’t think of it as that big of a problem.

George Zimmerman, the neighborhood-watch volunteer who shot and killed unarmed teen Trayvon Martin, has been sprung from jail. Zimmerman, wearing a beige jacket and jeans and carrying a large brown bag, walked out of the John E. Polk Correctional Facility at midnight on $150,000 bond. He ignored shouted questions from the half- dozen reporters waiting outside, where he was met by five cars — a white BMW SUV and four green and white Town Cars belonging to the Sheriff’s Department. Read More: New York Post

Queens bridge shops sue city over crashes

Two Queens shops shuttered after out-of-control cars plowed into their storefronts not once but twice — and within just nine days of each other — have filed a $1 million lawsuit, blaming a 59th Street Bridge exit ramp. Espinal Caribbean Restaurant II had been open four years in Long Island City when the first crash happened in March 2011. “It was a major setback and years of work evaporated,’’ owner Tony Espinal said. “But then the second crash! “And then the third crash!” he said, referring to yet another in which a car sped toward the shops, only to be stopped by scaffolding erected after the earlier accidents. Read More: New York Post

Flood Watch In Effect As Spring Nor’easter Soaks City

New Yorkers are getting plenty of use out of their raincoats and umbrellas as a spring Nor’Easter continues to whip up some serious precipitation. A flood watch remains in effect through Monday morning for the entire city as up to three inches of rain could fall in some parts. Meteorologists say the worst of the storm will likely arrive early in the overnight hours and could bring wind gusts between 30 and 40 miles per hour. As of early Sunday evening, no major flooding had been reported. The city’s flash flood plan was activated on Thursday and crews began cleaning catch basins last week. Read More: NY1

City Earth Day Events Take On Different Shades Of Green

New Yorkers gathered for events to “green” up the city all day Sunday as part of Earth Day 2012. In addition to the first annual Harlem Earth Day being held, there were also plantings and discussions on green development in Morningside Park, Marcus Garvey Park and Central Park. The first-ever Earth Day on the High Line featured a giant salad preparation and the chance to meet one-on-one with the elevated park’s gardeners. The performance art piece was the brain child of artist Alison Knowles, who first did the performance 50 years ago. Read More: NY1

Mystery grows in death of Michael Lin, 27-year-old clubgoer who died early Saturday

New details emerged Sunday about what happened to a 27-year-old Queens man who suffered fatal injuries while at a midtown club early Saturday. Michael Lin appeared to have had a broken jaw and bruises on his body when cops found him outside Koreatown hotspot District 36 about 3 a.m. Saturday, police said previously. He died at Bellevue Medical Center an hour later. Investigators now believe Lin had tried to leave the W. 36th St. party joint to smoke a cigarette, using a second-floor emergency exit, police sources said. Read More: Daily News

Hammer-armed rapist arrested: cops

A Queens teenager has been arrested for attacking two women in Brooklyn in which he used a hammer to threaten them, police said Friday. Anthony Moore, 19, of Queens Village, allegedly raped an 18-year-old after threatening her with a hammer and forcing her to a desolate spot in Brownsville about 12:40 a.m. on April 9, cops said. Later that day, around 11 a.m., Moore approached a 22-year-old woman near Stone Ave. and tried to threaten her with a hammer, but she fought him off, cops said. Read More: Daily News